The Back to School Bash was held at the Butler Hall Events Center on July 25 to help parents and students in the Jones County community get backpacks and school supplies they may need for the upcoming school year.
Joy Carr, coordinator for Jones County Family Connection, said she was excited to see everyone at Butler Hall, and wasn’t expecting such a huge crowd to enter.
“At the Back to School Bash we provided school supplies, backpacks and resource information for the community,” she said. “This was for parents and students, so the students could start off school on a good note this year with the supplies and things they need to be successful.”
She said the Back to School Bash was important for Jones County, because it shows the dedication the organizations in Jones County have for the students. She said everyone wanted to make sure the students were well prepared for school and have all the tools they will need to start the year.
“I feel everyone at the event had a pretty good time. I saw a lot of happy people and happy children leaving the building with supplies. They got a prepackaged school supply bag that had notebooks, pencils, paper, and other items they will need. They also got a free backpack. All of the vendors had school supplies and information that they shared,” Carr said.
The coordinator said they gave out over 800 backpacks and school supply kits, 110 students checked out Chromebooks from the Jones County School System and an estimated 1,500 people attended the event at Butler Hall. She said the service providers for the event were CGTC, Ga Rental Assistance, River Edge, JC 4-H, Keep Jones Beautiful, Paul Sheets State Farm, Tri-CoGo, JC DFCS, Music Medic, Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia, JC Public Library, Care Source, JC Transportation and Nutrition, Jones County Suicide Prevention and PIPP - Augusta University, JC Health Department, and DPH Oral Health.
Carr said Jones County Family Connection and Operation Round Up grant funding provided the bookbags, while the Jones County School System provided the supplies. Volunteers and donations came from Pilot Club of Jones County, New Damascus Church, St Paul AME Church, Rotary Club of Jones County, Woodmen of the World #542, Unite Us, and Harveys. She said if parents missed the Back to School Bash, they can check with their child’s school about backpacks and supplies.
Leslie Poythress, the executive director of family engagement with JCSS, said she was giving out the Chromebooks to students who didn’t have a designated device at home for learning. She said the Back to School Bash was phenomenal, and she was glad students could get supplies that would give them a starting point for school.
“These help the students, because they are able to do homework, special projects and virtual learning if by chance we have to do that,” she said. “They will already be set for that online learning, but hopefully that won’t happen. We appreciate everyone coming to help their learners, and it was exciting to see everyone get things they needed.”
Carr said the parents were grateful for the Back to School Bash, and she was happy they got the resources for their children. She said it was great to see people back together for the event and able to get many of the things they needed.
“My favorite thing about these Back to School Bashes is watching the kids get so excited about getting their school supplies. They came in just as eager with their parents to pick up stuff,” the coordinator said. “We definitely did not expect this many people to be here in person this year, but we’re glad they were excited and eager.”
